The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-03-18
TIE AMERTCAN swINDEE.
What stln Happens TO People Who yisi:
Niagara Falls.

If you will talk with 100 people who
have visited Niagara Falls You will
find ninety of them still mad at the
thought of how they were in some man
ner swindled, and that the other ten
remember the place with disgust be-
cause of the extortions practiced on
every hand. The swindler and robber
arrived at the Falls about the time the
first hotel was erected, and he has con-
tinued to flourish and grow fat'until the
present hour. There was q time when
he was in the minority; he now runs
things to suit himself.
When the great State of New York
appropriated S1,500,000 to BUY the
swindlers out and make the Falls free
to the people the hearts of the masses
were rejoiced. The purchase took in
Goat Island, Prospect Park, and n strip
of land mile and half long up and
down the river above the falls. This
made free park of Prospect, with a
free bridge to Goat Island, and the fare
across the suspension foot-bridge was
reduced to Is cents, and the trip down
the inclined railway to 10 cents.
Then the City Council of Niagara
passed such ordinances as were expect
ed to either reform the highway robbers
who drive the hacks or force them to
leave the place, and the people were
called upon to visit free Niagara and
enjoy themselves. 1 dropped off there
for couple of days last month, being
very enthusiastic over the reform, and
ready to credit the Empire State with
any amount.of public philanthropy.
To begin with, will leave it to any
fair-minded man if there is u hotel at
the place which isn't swindle when it
charges 81 per dayP The best rooms
are second-class to those of mountain
and seaside resorts, and the tables no
better than the ran of so per day
houses. To help crush out the hack
men and accommodate the people the
State leased the privilege of street-car
line from Prospect Park to the canta-
lever bridge. 1t is long ride for
nickel and at first thought one chuckles
over the way the hackmen have been
euchred. On the sides of the car is the
sign, ITO all points of interest" AS
matter of fact it hits but two points.
On the dashboards is painted the sign:
ITO the whirlpool" When I saw It
reasoned to myself that the car ran from
the park to the whirlpool. Anybody
else would reason the same way. In
company with o couple of young boys 1
boarded the car one morning to 90
down to the whirlpool. No point of in
terest was touched. The terminus was
q walk of five minutes from either rail-
road bridge and three-quarters of o mile
from the whirlpool. When / asked the
conductor to explain he replied that I
was expected to foot it the rest of the
way. 1t might not be swindle to adj
vertise q car from Detroitt to Buffalo and
stop it at st. Thomas, but some folks
would insist that it was 3itfl
We had been down to the end of the
cantalever, and were on our way back
when hickman drove up and offered
to take the three of us back to the hotel
for 20 cents. As the distance was a
mile and half, the charge seemed
reasonable, but he was inclined to do
still better For the small sum of so
cents he would take us doson TO see the
whirlpool. / give his words in italic
because they were a swindle. The last
time was there the whirlpool was free.
One could get out of a carriage and
take his view from the bank. This
chap seemed to guarantee just such
sight, and we bit Mt the bait. When he
halted, after drive of nearly mile, 1t
was at the door of curiosity store on
the bank Of the river. Over the door
was the sign: "Admittanco to whirl-
pool. so conts!" We Indignantly back
ed out. and blessed our driver for a